"The kingdoms often fall into the absence of an iron nail." - Ancient proverb

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Because I am short of money, this is Li Bida's justified reason. Dear Sabo, you must know that there are now nearly 2,000 infantry and projectile soldiers in the Kimela Winter Camp, thousands of horses of various purposes, and a considerable number of hostages, military slaves, daily money, clothing and food consumption as deep as the mouth of a sea beast. The 10,100 taxes and blood taxes of the tribes around Italy and Osir cannot be supported. The vault I brought, including my private property, has more than 300 Tarants. Now half of the recruitment and training, equipment, etc. I urgently need money and more money. The Vitoni Mountains have nothing but goats, and Betnerri is different, with developed commerce and fertile fields.

"But that is not your position, and you should not be attacked by your army. You will be caught by Pompey and be impeached or even punished in the Senate." Sabo Kemus's suggestion was very serious.

Li Bida did not argue with him, but asked him to go to Italy as soon as possible to help Habaruka handle matters. Then we took our baggage and headed to Betnari.

But three days after Sabo Kemus left, he returned to the camp of Kimela and personally brought Caesar's "command stick" to Li Bida. A command document engraved with the letters of the internal code of the army. Caesar's request was urgent: the journey to Newman Seal is temporarily put on hold. Li Bida, you immediately take your existing troops and cross the Guadalquivi River to Cardes. There are a thousand light-carried soldiers sent by King Juba of Numidia. There are also the most critical weapon-the four war elephants. Your men must safely escort these reinforcements, especially the four giant guys with long noses, after the beginning of spring, to assist me in the battle. Recently, a large number of green forest horse bandits appeared near the city of Cardes. These people plundered the towns and ambush and killed our food transport team and supplementary recruits.

Well, the "Thyme Panol Oil" is coming in handy again. I have been tossing back and forth. After reading it, Li Bida was ready to ignite the fire to burn the command stick, but his mind changed and wanted to say something. When he saw Sabo Kemus, who looked serious, he stopped talking, but asked two personal soldiers to keep Caesar's command stick.

Then, Libida gathered all the soldiers of Gimelane and told them to leave the winter camp immediately. Everyone marched at the standard of "mountain supplies" and headed to Cades quickly.

The so-called "mountain baggage" is a standard established by Marriott back then, which is that soldiers carry light backpacks alone. There are only essential supplies and equipment to ensure survival, plus a small amount of money. The pack horses transporting heavy baggage do not follow the army, just to make the entire army move lightly and quickly when crossing geographical places like mountains and give full play to the greatest speed advantage.

Soon, all the soldiers under Libida lined up in a row of long columns. The ala cavalry surveyed and opened the way in front, and the infantry ran in small steps behind. When passing by Ga, Italy, Habaruka joined the team at the request of his master, and everyone advanced quickly towards the city of Cades.

A few days later, when they arrived at the city of Catez, King Juba's reinforcements arrived at the port by boat. In front of the large pier trestle, the workers were busy, putting wooden ladders on the side of the Numidian ships, and letting groups of Numidian light infantry with colorful and weird clothes, a javelin infantry of the Roman Republic, disembarked in groups and arrived in the city. Li Bida, holding Caesar's messenger, stood in the square behind the dock with his staff and entourages such as Sabo, Habaruka, and welcomed the other clan chiefs.

Suddenly, the high-pitched and loud beasts that came out from the docking boats on the sea made many dock workers run up with their heads in their arms. Li Bida looked there and saw several special ships with high guardrails (the length and width ratio was almost square). When we slowly drifted, the boatman and sailors climbed densely on the bridge and masts, shouting at the dock, saying that the boat could not be docked on the wooden trestle, which was full of limestone and cliffs. Can we find an open gravel land so that our ship could release the sacred elephant and then go ashore?

Under the hard guidance of the dock staff, these ships finally found a deserted and idle long beach on the other side of the city. Li Bida and the chief of the Numidian clan came there to wait. However, the ship transporting elephants dropped their anchors in the shallow water. Many people opened the wide guard boards and laid them in the water. Then a ringing ring was ringing, accompanied by a roar that shook the sky and was yelling. The elephant husband rode the gorgeously decorated Afilica forest elephant, stepped on the guard board, and rushed into the shallow water to trek to the shore.

A rolling turbid wave of water was set off. Li Bida's mount "Owl" was a lady in the horse. She was gentle and well-behaved, and a little arrogant and noble (which was somewhat similar to her former hostess Adiana). As a result, she was frightened by these monsters who came from the water and bared her teeth. The rest of the mounts were also clamoring and shouting quietly everywhere. Only the mounts of Chief Numidia were very calm. I guess they had been dealing with these war elephants for a long time and had been used to it as usual.

These small forest elephants have good travel and flexibility, and are most suitable for use as war elephants. They are dressed in gorgeous saddles and are controlled by an elephant husband. These elephant husbands only wear helmets and do not have any armor. They hold elephant taming sticks in their hands, which can guide the mount to impact and trample the enemy formation.

When the forest war elephants calmed down and scattered on the long beach for a small walk, the thousand Numidian javelins came to meet, and they were not so much here to fight, but to serve the elephants, because everyone was carrying heavy bundles of forage, "in the name of the Governor, they collected a large amount of hay and husband from Caldes." Li Bida looked at the elephant, and while stroking and comforting the fearful "owl", he instructed Habaruka calmly, "Also, collect the 100-tax tax for the next year in advance."

"If you are in advance, does the Governor know?" Habaruka's voice was very quiet. He didn't want the extremely serious Sabo to hear it.

"I certainly don't know, but this is also a war requirement. Just remember the taxes and debts on the bald man's head." Li Bida lowered his voice.

At this time, the chief of the Numidian clan said Phoenician words to Li Bida. Sabo and Habaruka translated together. The other party meant that reinforcements had arrived on time, where should they move below?

"Oh, that's it." Li Bida took out Caesar's command stick and said loudly: "Everyone, I am Caesar's confidant and the financial officer of Far Spain. Immediately, the war elephant and the soldiers meet with our army-going north to open up the roads between Betnery and Newmancia. This is Caesar's order!" (To be continued, please search for astronomy, the novel is better and faster!
Chapter completed!